Cambridge EPR challenged by Cerner

Clinical IT vendor Cerner has issued a challenge to Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust over its recent eHospital electronic patient record procurement.

Cerner, which was beaten in the deal by its US rival Epic, has suggested the trust failed to conduct a fair and transparent tender process and has called for a re-tender.

However, the trust has rejected these claims and a spokesman added: “The trust has run an open and fair OJEU competition in line with public procurement processes. The trust is continuing to proceed with the procurement process for eHospital.”

It emerged in April that Epic had won the Cambridge University Hospitals and Papworth Hospital NHS Foundation Trust joint electronic patient record procurement after being picked ahead of Cerner and Allscripts.

It means Cambridge will become Epic’s first UK reference site.

Cerner’s concerns are set out by the company’s vice president Alan Fowles in a letter the trust’s interim chief executive Dr Karen Castille.

It says: “Having reviewed feedback from Cambridge University Hospitals’ e-hospital tender, we had significant concerns about how the procurement was conducted.”

The letter was also sent to the trust’s chairman, Dame Mary Archer, and asks that it publishes full details of its internal documentation in relation to the tender.

The letter adds: “We believe that the only fair way to resolve this matter is to publically re-tender and we therefore urge you to reconsider your decision.”

eHealth Insider has reported that the Epic bid was in the region of £30m, and may have been up to 50% more expensive than other shortlisted suppliers.